PARTRIDGE. 
283 
made the experiment, informs me, that of several hen's eggs which he 
substituted in place of those of the Partridge, she brought out the 
"whole ; and that for several weeks he occasionally surprised her in 
various parts of the plantation, with her brood of chickens ; on which 
occasions she exhibited all that distressful alarm, and practised her 
usual manoeuvres for their preservation. Even after they were con- 
siderably grown, and larger than the Partridge herself, she continued 
to lead them about ; but though their notes, or call, were those of com- 
mon chickens, their manners had all the shyness, timidity and alarm of 
young Partridges ; running with great rapidity, and squatting in the 
grass exactly in the manner of the Partridge. Soon after this they 
disappeared, having probably been destroyed by dogs, by the gun, or 
by birds of prey. Whether the domestic fowl might not by this method 
be very soon brought back to its original savage state, and thereby 
supply another additional subject for the amusement of the sportsman, 
will scarcely admit of a doubt. But the experiment, in order to secure 
its -.success, would require to be made in a quarter of the country less 
exposed than ours to the ravages of guns, traps, dogs, and the deep 
snows of winter, that the new tribe might have full time to become com- 
pletely naturalized, and well fixed in all their native habits. 
About the beginning of September, the Quails being now nearly full 
grown, and associated in flocks, or coveys, of from four or five to thirty, 
afford considerable sport to the gunner. At this time the notes of the 
male are most frequent, clear and loud. His common call consists of 
two notes, with sometimes an introductory one, and is similar to the 
sound produced by pronouncing the words "Bob White." This call 
may be easily imitated by Avhistling, so as to deceive the bird itself, and 
bring it near. While uttering this he is usually perched on a rail of the 
fence, or on a low limb of an apple-tree, where he will sometimes sit, 
repeating at short intervals "Bob White," for half an hour at a time. 
When a covey are assembled in a thicket or corner of a field, and 
about to take wing, they make a low twittering sound, not unlike that 
of young chickens ; and when the covey is dispersed, they are called 
together again by a loud and frequently repeated note, peculiarly ex- 
pressive of tenderness and anxiety. 
The food of the Partridge consists of grain, seeds, insects, and berries 
of various kinds. Buckwheat and Indian corn are particular favorites. 
In September and October the buckwheat fields afford them an abundant 
supply, as well as a secure shelter. They usually roost at night in the 
middle of a field on high ground ; and from the circumstance of their 
dung being often found in such places, in one round heap, it is gene- 
rally conjectured that they roost in a circle, with their heads outwards, 
each individual in this position forming a kind of guard to prevent 
